1965 is a year that is one of the most momentous years in American history. President Johnson is determining whether to launch more forces in Vietnam and ultimately makes the decision to do so which will make this war last longer! Johnson ignores several of his advisers who do not support Johnson’s actions. Since 1945 the United States ha s been involved with the problems going on with Vietnam. The United States has been assisting the South Vietnamese government by sending noncombatant military advisers to counter the communist guerillas in the South that are being sent by North Vietnam. Previously, under Kennedy the United States only had a limited role in Vietnam, and was not directly involved. Johnson has continued and increased the Kennedy administration policies after the J
Lyndon Johnson working the telephone Photo from LBJ Presidential Library
FK assassination (1963). Johnson did not quickly react to the situation in Vietnam when he became President. He restrained from setting action in Vietnam in the year 1964 because he wanted to befriend the American people and gain their support for his reelection. Kennedy left some big shoes for Johnson to fill in such a delicate time in history. Eventually, Congress did support the prosecution of the war. After the Gulf of Tonkin situation was resolved, it was clear that South Vietnam would lose the war. As North Vietnam realized their strength Johnson decided to not abandon Saigon because he thought it would be a mistake politically, hurt the United States credibility, and fear of other Communists parties challenging the United States. Fixing the government in South Vietnam has been a dismal failure. Special Assistant McGeorge Bundy for the National Security Affairs, has taken a trip to South Vietnam and is assessing the quandary going on. During his travels there, the National Liberation Front launched an attack on the United States army in Pleiku. Bundy has recommended that action take place against the act of violence that he witnessed. When he returned back to Washington Bundy reported, “The situation in Vietnam is deteriorating, and without new US action defeat appears inevitable. There is still time to turn it around, but not much.” Johnson has created a new operation called “Rolling Thunder”. This consists of sustained bombing against North Vietnam, to improve South Vietnamese vigor. It is hoped that this will interfere with the North’s infiltration of the South.
Unsurprisingly, Johnson fails in his attempt to turn the war around with bombing alone. Politics is very heated over the discussion of what to do in Vietnam. The foreign policy team has decided to dispatch 50,000 more troops. Johnson approves of this action. Because it is quickly obvious that this is not enough troops, eventually another set of battalions was sent which raised the number of forces to 125,000. This is still insufficient to take care of the job. They then increase the number of forces to 175,000. President Johnson has been receiving feedback from a panel of presidential advisers expressing their disgust with the escalation in Vietnam. Many advisers to President Johnson disapprove of his actions in McNamara also makes a visit to South Vietnam, and on his return to Washington he encourages the President to increase the number of forces to fight Hanoi again. On July 27th of 1966, the decision to reinforce combat troops in Vietnam is made by the National Security Council. At this point Johnson’s only choices are to have immediate withdraw of troops, to maintain the same level of troops that are present, or to increase the number of troops. Johnson decides to place his problems in the hands of the United States Military. Johnson Escalation The heightened war that will be launched will turn out to be the most discordant war that will lose 58,000 lives. The United States will eventually withdraw in 1973 from South Vietnam. This contentious war will ruin Johnson’s Presidency and political career. President Johnson will not run again for the presidency in the coming year.
Kennedy left some big shoes for Johnson to fill in such a delicate time in history. Eventually, Congress did support the prosecution of the war. After the Gulf of Tonkin situation was resolved, it was clear that South Vietnam would lose the war. As North Vietnam realized their strength Johnson decided to not abandon Saigon because he thought it would be a mistake politically, hurt the United States credibility, and fear of other Communists parties challenging the United States. Fixing the government in South Vietnam has been a dismal failure. Special Assistant McGeorge Bundy for the National Security Affairs, has taken a trip to South Vietnam and is assessing the quandary going on. During his travels there, the National Liberation Front launched an attack on the United States army in Pleiku. Bundy has recommended that action take place against the act of violence that he witnessed. When he returned back to Washington Bundy reported, “The situation in Vietnam is deteriorating, and without new US action defeat appears inevitable. There is still time to turn it around, but not much.” Johnson has created a new operation called “Rolling Thunder”. This consists of sustained bombing against North Vietnam, to improve South Vietnamese vigor. It is hoped that this will interfere with the North’s infiltration of the South.
Escalation Of The Vietnam War
Unsurprisingly, Johnson fails in his attempt to turn the war around with bombing alone. Politics is very heated over the discussion of what to do in Vietnam. The foreign policy team has decided to dispatch 50,000 more troops. Johnson approves of this action. Because it is quickly obvious that this is not enough troops, eventually another set of battalions was sent which raised the number of forces to 125,000. This is still insufficient to take care of the job. They then increase the number of forces to 175,000. President Johnson has been receiving feedback from a panel of presidential advisers expressing their disgust with the escalation in Vietnam. Many advisers to President Johnson disapprove of his actions in McNamara also makes a visit to South Vietnam, and on his return to Washington he encourages the President to increase the number of forces to fight Hanoi again. On July 27th of 1966, the decision to reinforce combat troops in Vietnam is made by the National Security Council. At this point Johnson’s only choices are to have immediate withdraw of troops, to maintain the same level of troops that are present, or to increase the number of troops. Johnson decides to place his problems in the hands of the United States Military. Johnson Escalation
The heightened war that will be launched will turn out to be the most discordant war that will lose 58,000 lives. The United States will eventually withdraw in 1973 from South Vietnam. This contentious war will ruin Johnson’s Presidency and political career. President Johnson will not run again for the presidency in the coming year.